The idea of having my own column would have, some years ago, sent me into a frenzied panic of mindboggling excitement.
Reason 1: My once delusional belief in the transformative power of newspapers. I figured that a written opinion is an official record, and if it’s in black and white, someone, somewhere must take notice, consider my recommendations, and initiate change. They had to. It was the newspaper, the expert mirror of society. Oh look, the Easter Bunny.
Then the internet happened and blogs erupted everywhere. The death of reasoned analysis gave way to the cult of the amateur. The media became democratic; while discourse became idiotic. The public sphere seemed a messy space, fraught with inaccuracies, and laden with textual junk. R.I.P Habermas.
Reason 2: The cathartic effects of writing as a young, naïve, idealist with rose-tinted glasses and loud opinions, slowly declined as I began understanding the analytic potential of complicated academic jargon, long-dead theorists, and painstaking argument-building. Forget newspapers, I wanted to become a professor.
But life happens in cycles and now I’m lost somewhere in between having an appreciation for academic writing, while also loathing its empty grandiosity; still writing for newspapers because I feel it will actually get read by real people, but having to accept that today’s hard work is wrapping up tomorrow’s fish and chips. But I still see the glass as half-full, and I still see “social transformation” as a do-able agenda. All the while, energetically trying to keep up with an abyss of content online in a seemingly endless pursuit of “truth” and “quality”. And then I remember postmodernism.
Occasionally, I drop articles into the abyss and wait to hear it hit the ground.
So with my own blog space up and running at long last, after opting to write as part of a network for a couple years, I’m left pondering the obvious: now that I’ve conceded and joined club, what exactly is a, umm, Thought Leader? And where is the best place to voice these thoughts? And who am I leading, and where to?
“I am hoping to trigger debate, controversy, reflection and connection via my writings”
I wish you well. You will find debate, but not that much. Lots of opinionated comments leaving little room to manoevre.
Try one article in the “glass half full” mood and another -on the same subject- in the glass half empty mood. A way of testing the tolerance of your audience in controversy.
Looking forward to more of your “triggers”. I have not seen a proper definition of a “thoughtleader” in the context of this blog. I challenge you to come up with one (or two).
Remember: glass half full or half empty in two separate articles.
Well done…
Well, we’ll have to see, won’t we? Do the best you can.
?
Looking forward to more ‘thoughts’ from you
I will be reading with interest.
A thought leader should be able to make people interrogate their own assumptions and beliefs.
Good luck Suntosh – something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time but don’t have the guts or skill. I look forward to the first one – maybe the bad news first, i.e. ‘the glass is half empty’ – nice way to put it ‘bernpm’ (b.t.w., whose commentary I always enjoy).
thanks for this it is indeed a daunting world of thoughts and words yet with some humility and trepidation we dare venture our thoughts which could leave us vulnerable the only way to grow.
Being a half full person- most of the time- thought leaders are meant to be visionary dreamers that point the way to a different possibility. we have a dearth of those in our public discourse unfortunately.
What is a social scientist? I know what a clinical psychologist is but why confuse an old man? Whatever it is you can be whatever you want to be as long as you are honest in your thoughts as presented in this space. Good luck with your social side of life too.
“The business of the University is political, then, not simply because it is a place of Machiavellian intrigue, self-serving negotiation, passive aggression, devious alliance, and mind-numbing committee discussions— of which it is— but because it is a place where citizens critique knowledge in the service of defining happiness and a democratic community.” —Eric Gould, 2003
It should be “Opinion Maker”; “Thought Leader” is a rather ambitious claim made by people with eyes tightly fixed on their own belly buttons…
Nice piece, Suntosh!
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But Santosh, didn’t you write an article in Aug 2009 on TL – “Deepak, Phil and Oprah: A self-help paradox” in your capacity as a clinical psychologist berating self-help books? Like Philip, I too am confused by this “social scientist” jargon. Isn’t it actually unethical as well considering clinical psychologist masquerading as a “social scientist” simply peddles the drugs from big pharma?
Thanks for this. I was reading with a big smile, since it reflects almost exactly my current sentiments.
Interesting comments everyone.
@bernmp: thanks for the advice. Similar to Prof. Jansen’s view that a good column offends half your readers; but a different half every time.
@bleet, rosalie & solitoliquido: nice aspects of a definition.
@venesh, the creator, mahendren, & maggielou: Thanks! Appreciate it.
@deniz: great – it’s fantastic when writing connects with people in that way.
@philip & dave harris: a social scientists is someone who, I suppose, has a degree in social sciences, and enagages with research in social processes & issues. A clinical psychologist often has a Masters in Social Sciences.
Suntosh! ……. WRITE! There does seem to be a plethora of Pillays with this rather marvellous talent ( or weakness) at the moment. Whats with you guys? And DO MORE! There is also a plethora of problems facing family, community, nation and country. The talent to think critically, to write and speak and above all be fearless is in critically short supply. Impressive !…………! You may just be a wee selfish ……. if you dont share and spread your talents!
Yo Suntosh…#proud-colleague-moment#.
But I have to say that you will now not only struggle with what to write…but what point of view to write it from. You are no longer just an Indian face that’s trying to figure out the politics of race, class, gender- which really politically is either Black or White
or African and Asian perspectives to psychology and religion…. You mostly seem to be somewhere in the middle…so I personally look forward to seeing you not only presenting debates on the table, but taking a stand and that’s what a thought leader is to me.
So bring out the activist in you, enough of this presentation of what other people think! whether your thoughts become “fish-and-chips” wrap tomorrow is a fact…but you have taken the risk to be put out there…and be criticized and critiqued! You shall be dubbed the Julius Malema of the Mail and Guardian (lol)…that being your fate…take up your cross and do what you must!!!
congrats dear friend.
@tzME & Nandi: Thanks for the comments & advice. I suppose that “fearless” quality of risk-taking by voicing an opinion will always draw opposition, but like you have mentioned, to “be criticized and critiqued” is my “fate”. Our fate, I suppose.
the glass is simultaneously half-full and half-empty. What is a thought leader ? Someone driven by his ideas and opinions to communicate them , hopefully, in a coherent way.
Hey man, if you have any positive thoughts, bring it on
Negative thoughts are exactly that… n e g a t i v e
Criticism is inevitable but makes people think
All the Best
A Thought Leader is a Truth Seeker.
A Thought Leader has original ideas.
A Thought Leader is not controversial for the sake of sensation, but for the porposes of exposing, enlightening and educating.
A Thought Leader is a free-thinker.
A Thought Leader is not intellectually dishonest.
There aren’t that many Thought Leader on “Thought Leader” at the M&G, I’m afraid…
thoughts unexpressed are always wishes, they only come to life when they are expressed, hence the Thought Leader. the dictatorial and legal chains that are always behind the public. the capitalistic systems have had us mainly leaving with wishes which are never realized. authority/ the power to enforce obedience is in the cradle of the public, lets use this platform to come up with solutions that can shape our future and if possible that can leave a better tomorrow to the next generation.
Mr. Pillay i salute you and i recommend this blog site to all
@ suntosh
aint it so true, your words.
we all want our little soap box, and in a perverted kind of way. we received it, yet the amount of crackle on the airwaves from all the little soap boxes, brings each individuals meaning to mean so little.
eish. terrible ingleesh